1 (only $62) | 2 | 3 (comes in two colors!) | 4 (comes in three colors!) | 5 (comes in two colors!) | 6
A few weeks back you guys shared you would be interested in a little holiday work party inspiration, so I’ve been collecting some of my favorite dresses to share with you!
I think the biggest piece to consider is: how formal is your workplace? If you’re at a law firm or mega corporate office, you might be better suited for one of the bottom three options. If you’re in a casual workplace, one of the top three options might be a better fit for the office vibe.
And I mean, this plaid dress? Real cute. And you could edge it up later with a leather jacket and ankle booties (have this pair and LOVE them, so comfortable!). Love! I also added several additional dresses above that could be a great fit.
Thank you guys for the feedback and thank you always for reading – XO –
I remember when I first paid attention to bedding. I was about two years out of college and was traveling a lot for work. I was fortunate play Eloise in some pretty swanky hotels and the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans had the most amazing white, fluffy bedding. It was my stay there that made me want to completely revamp my bedroom!
Since then I have had white duvet covers (easy washing and bleaching is a bonus), and I love the feeling of waking up to a white, fluffy cloud. While my headboard is here to stay for the long-haul, I like mixing up the bedding and pillows. After a few years with our duvet cover (and a few too many pet snuggles on the bed), I thought it was time for refresh. I love the look of this Crane and Canopy setand how affordable it is!
We had so much fun celebrating our second year anniversary last year in Big Bear that we chose to head back for our third year anniversary weekend! I had no idea it would be so much colder this time around and on Saturday we had a beautiful fall day, and on Sunday a snow storm. I will never stop appreciating that in three days we experienced the beach, a fall forest and winter wonderland. Mind trip!
I have started pairing navy and black together and love the easy contrast. This dress is so comfortable and I think it can be styled differently and pulled off year-round! Another item I can’t stop wearing are these delicate, so light you hardly feel them Barbela Designs diamond stud earrings. I’ve even slept in them several times with no discomfort whatsoever and I never sleep in jewelry. They are perfect for everyday!
We are thinking of heading back to the mountains Thanksgiving weekend – we’ve been to Big Bear and Mammoth, but if you guys have suggestions, I’d love to hear! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
– a surprising flower color combination that I’m diggin’ –
– enjoying a slow morning of listening to podcasts and baking (cake stand available here) –
– this print that has brought the most peaceful, relaxing vibes to our living room –
– seeing these two snuggle on the couch –
– packing for a mountain getaway –
I have to take a minute to thank you guys from the very bottom of my heart for the outpouring of love, support and kindness about last Friday’s post. The last few years I have been hesitant to get too personal on this blog, choosing to protect myself from possible criticism. At the same time, I write on CBL as I would talk to a friend, and I wanted to be open about this new season of life. Thank you for sharing your own struggles and experiences with me and for having open hearts. Honestly I was blown away and moved to tears. Thank you, thank you, thank you – you guys have no idea how much you inspire me, and reading all of your comments was one of my favorite moments this blog has ever created.
Now that the gushy part is over with (whew!), let’s move on, shall we? I had heard this song before but didn’t really think twice about it. Somehow I ended up watching the video and now I am playing it constantly. I am thisclose to taking a boombox out to the middle of the street and dancing. A confident self-love anthem? If I didn’t love myself so much I would want to be Hailee Steinfeld (that was a joke… get it?).
I’m going to be sharing more soon, but this print from Minted has really transformed our living room. We chose it because we really wanted a piece to remind us of our time here in California, and it reminded us of the rocky coast on PCH in central coast (our favorite part of the state). I love the relaxing ambiance it created. I rearranged some throw pillows, and now we have a refreshed space that I am so excited to snuggle up in. Minted has so many amazing prints from artists all over the world, I sorted through all of them to narrow down to 19 and then had to eliminate from there!
We are heading to the mountains with Bailey for an anniversary getaway. It’s supposed to get down to 19 degrees… so that’s going to be new for us, but I am so excited to tuck away in one of our favorite weekend spots with a tall glass of pinot. What are you guys doing this weekend? And who’s got their holiday decorations up because I’m definitely ready to get started. Thanks so much for reading – XO –
When I was younger, pasta was always my favorite dish. I can remember asking my mom for pasta and she would cook a basic spaghetti noodle + garlic + olive oil + Parmesan combo that was and still is killer in it’s simplicity and deliciousness. SO, the craze of the zucchini noodle was not lost on me!
I bought a handheld spiralizer this summer and have loved making healthy, fresh and easy weeknight dinners, and this recipe is a vegetarian keeper. I’m so grateful Christian loves garlic and tomatoes as much as I do (being part Lebanese, we didn’t take garlic lightly), because I find a way to put the two in almost all of our dinners. Love it, can’t live without it.
Do any of you have favorite zoodle recipes? My friend Nikki of My Style Diaries recommend I start following Inspiralized and I mean… the possibilities are endless.
If you’re not a zucchini lover, I also made this vegetarian pasta Sunday night with linguine and It. Was. Phenom. Seriously so good both hot and cold. And don’t forget there are still a few more days to enter to win one of two Rebecca Minkoff bags here AND the hair tools giveaway here! XO –
I’ve always been more into clothes than beauty or hair, while my sister is more into beauty than clothes. SO, it wasn’t until after working at a cosmetics company’s headquarters for a few years before I really gave more attention to detail in my beauty routine. I still wouldn’t call myself a pro by any means, but I do have some favorites, so I thought I would share some of my top picks with you guys!
This face cream is so moisturizing and I love the scent when putting it on at night. This illuminizing veil and this palette are the secret to glowing skin, and my brows aren’t complete without this pencil. My new favorite lip therapy (the peppermint scent is so perfect for this time of year) and this perfume is my latest addiction. THIS body wash is intoxicating – it has kept me in the shower a little longer just enjoying the scent!
Do you guys have any beauty favorites? I’d love to hear what you swear by! And don’t forget there are still a few more days to enter to win one of two Rebecca Minkoff bags here AND the hair tools giveaway here – XO –
Christian and I have been together for almost nine years and today marks three years of marriage. I think newlywed life is different for everyone, and for us we’ve been grateful that because we knew each other so well before we got married, the first few years of our marriage have actually felt really natural (and fun!) without many surprises.
However, since we chose not to live together until we got married, cohabiting has been new for us – merging our pets, possessions and privacy. So, today I wanted us both to share three things we’ve learned over the past three years.
Kathleen –
1. Sometimes, silence is best.
I can be a complainer. This I know is true. Christian rarely complains, he’s a steady, glass half full kind of guy (one of the many things I admire about him). The great thing about having a loyal partner is that they are there for you in the good and bad, they are listeners and can empathize with you like no one else (other than your Mom of course. #momsrule). Because you love your partner, you shouldn’t want to bring them down with your negativity when you can help it. I really try to bite my tongue and stay silent when I feel I could get on a whine-streak about something that doesn’t even involve C. Take a walk, go into another room – distract yourself and it will pass.
2. A little mystery isn’t a bad thing.
I’ve always been modest, and I prefer to maintain a little modesty and mystery in our relationship (we don’t have kids – so this is probably easier for us now). Christian doesn’t need to see me climb into a pair of Spanx and the bathroom door can stay closed. He’s just fine with me not sharing everything.
3. Never underestimate the importance of a quick vacation.
We made a long bucket list when we moved to California and have been crossing destinations off one by one. Travel might actually be the only splurge we both agree on! Something about a vacation – even if it’s just a mini weekend getaway – takes us back to that honeymoon phase. We always come back feeling more connected.
Christian –
1. After you’ve been with someone for years they learn to read your mood.
They can see things in you change before you realize it. When she says, “You’re getting sleepy/grumpy… you should go to bed,” she’s right and it’s time for bed.
2. You think you know someone…
Alternatively, you can be with someone for nine years and they’ll still surprise you, pleasantly of course. Example: I felt some pressure uprooting both of our lives across the country for my career, taking Kathleen away from all of her family and friends after only six months of marriage. While living here, she has adjusted almost effortlessly and has even mentioned it would be fun to live internationally for a year, which completely took me by surprise.
3. You have to learn new ways to keep things romantic.
When we first started dating, I could bring Kathleen flowers and it would be a big deal for weeks. When we were engaged I could stop by the grocery and buy a few dollars worth of flowers without an occasion and it would make her week. Now she buys flowers for herself weekly when she grocery shops. Flowers from me are nice but have lost their romantic gesture. However if I surprise her by cooking dinner, she’s elated. Gestures of love have to change with your current season of life.
Do you have advice you’ve learned from your relationship and/or partner? I’d truly love to hear. Thanks so much for reading and for experiencing this journey with me! You can find posts about our wedding here, first anniversary here and second anniversary here. And don’t forget there are still a few more days to enter to win one of two Rebecca Minkoff bags here AND the hair tools giveaway here! XO –
I love a clipless curling iron for creating soft, pretty waves that don’t have any of those creases or kinks that curling irons with clips can leave. You might think that using a clipless curling iron takes more time to use, but it might surprise you that it really doesn’t once you’ve gotten the hang of it. For first-time users I would recommend using the glove that comes with the iron to make sure you don’t accidentally burn yourself. I want you guys to have beautiful curls burn-free!
At under $35, what’s really unique about this Pro Beauty Tools 1” Professional X-Long Gold Curling Wand is that it is two inches longer than traditional wands – something I’ve never seen before. This makes it even easier to achieve salon-quality hair and an affordable price! You can curl your hair from root to tip without overlapping hair on the barrel, so it is the ideal curling wand for girls with long hair! Brilliant, right? It also heats up to 430 degrees and has multiple heat settings to hold your curls extra-long.
Today I’m sharing my mane crush – Mila Kunis. I used my curling wand to style glam curls like a pro and recreate her look, including an off-the-shoulder dress that felt so Mila.
First I brush my hair and spray it with heat protectant spray. Once that has dried, I clip up the top half of my hair and lightly spray some hairspray on the bottom half of my hair before beginning to curl it. I grab a section of hair and wrap it around the wand away from my face. I usually hold the hair to the barrel for about 8 – 10 seconds. Once I take away the wand I scrunch the section of hair in my hand to the root to trap some of the heat before moving onto another section.
After I’ve curled each section, I leave it be, don’t brush through it just yet! Before I take down the top portion of my hair, I clipped in two rows of Luxy Hair Extensions to give my hair some extra thickness. You can get $5 off of your order with the code LUXYKATHLEEN.
I continue the same steps on the top portion of my hair. Once I’ve curled all of my hair and it has cooled, I run through the curls with my fingers, loosening them into more natural, voluminous curls. I then tease the roots lightly before a finishing layer of hairspray. Voila!
Today, Pro Beauty Tools and I have teamed up to give away both a 1” Professional X-Long Gold Curling Wand AND their AC Blow Dryer to one reader! To enter, simply leave a comment answering what Pro Beauty product you want to try the most. That’s it! The winner will be selected and announced in this post on Monday, 11/23.
Thank you guys so much for reading and entering – XO –
* Update 11/23: Winner is…. Ann Langlois! Thank you SO MUCH to all of you who entered, I loved hearing about your own hair and how you like to style it. More fun giveaways to come!
So I’ve been putting off sharing some recent changes with you guys because I’ve been going back and forth on how to share it… but I’m just going to pour out my feelings and we can just take it from there, deal?
I’ve had a few comments and questions from y’all recently about my day job and if I’m still working in my social media position in addition to managing this blog. Let’s talk about it. I’ve always loved writing, so much so that I minored in Journalism in college. Since I started CBL five years ago, I’ve worked full-time in three different states – at a magazine, the marketing department of a bank and now a global cosmetics company. I’ve loved each step in my career – and am still friends with coworkers from each piece of the journey.
The past year was the first time I really felt stretched thin (I shared a post about this here). I felt scatterbrained, sleep deprived and stressed. I had so much on my plate, but loved both my day job and the blog and didn’t want to let anything go! Both Christian and my family encouraged me to leave my day job and focus on this blog, but I wasn’t ready. I loved my job. I love my coworkers, going to work everyday to a mega cool office with mega cool people, bringing my dog to work, traveling, pouring my energy and focus into a brand and working as a team for a unified goal. I thrive in that kind of environment!
There’s a phrase I love, “you can do everything but not everything well.” That’s where I was. I was forgetting things left and right, making simple mistakes constantly because I was moving too quickly. One time I even drifted off into the middle of an intersection on the way to work because I was simply in a daze (Mom, if you’re reading this, look away!!). Not to mention I was spending over an hour in the car everyday, getting to and from work in traffic.
I prayed about it. I talked about it endlessly with Christian, but I just didn’t know what to do. I didn’t feel my time at my day job was done, and I wasn’t ready to let anything go.
In June I got a phone call that changed everything.
My eyes fill with tears just typing that sentence. One of my closest friends called me to tell me that my friend from college (and the last roommate I had before I married Christian) had passed away in Mississippi. Mary Ellen was gone. And I lived across the country. I was devastated. I felt helpless, confused – I couldn’t fully believe it until I read her obituary, and then the tears were a free fall. The loss of her life and everything that could have been suddenly changed my perspective like a light switch.
Life is short, you never know what tomorrow brings, and you have to take control of your own happiness now. I was completely absorbed by working two jobs that I wasn’t the partner I wanted to be to Christian. I wasn’t a good friend, a good listener, sister or daughter. I was putting so much pressure on myself and didn’t want to let anyone down, but I had to change gears and get out of this race with myself.
That doesn’t mean I didn’t cry like a baby to my amazing bossy when I told her how I was feeling. I’ve worked so hard to give everything 100%, but ultimately I decided to move in a new direction, and left my day job in the beginning of September.
I still bring Bailey by the office every few weeks (she really misses all the attention… and treats!), and still text regularly with my coworkers – meeting up for dinner and catching up on everything I’ve missed. But I’ve never felt more centered (and Christian is loving all the hot meals, #Southern).
Hopefully this means you guys will be seeing more fresh, creative and unique content on this blog. But if you follow me on Snapchat (CBLied), you’ll see that things have changed a bit.
So that’s everything. That’s where my heart is and where life is. Of course I’d rather work both jobs and have Mary Ellen here. I miss her. But she taught me so many things in her life – like how to properly organize my closet, the best cleaning supplies, never to drink more than two Long Island iced teas, that it’s not too late to pick up a ballet hobby just to wear toe shoes, how to really decorate for Christmas, what it looked like to be a proud American, the beauty of a Sonic Diet Coke, in fact, it was with Mary Ellen that I snatched Lula LaShonda from the Mexican restaurant parking lot… I could go on forever! She will always be a part of me in the heart-filling memories I have of her life.
My days are a little different now, but I’m no longer drifting into intersections and am getting more than five hours of sleep, so I feel grateful for the change in pace. I always want to be honest and transparent with you guys, and this isn’t something I’ve been holding back from you, but I knew it wasn’t going to be easy to share. Heart (and tears) spilled!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Payless. As always, all opinions are my own.
In the small town I grew up in, there was a Payless store in the mall and I would find cute shoes there all of the time. In fact, I have a pair of python stacked heels that I snagged from Payless over five years ago that I still get compliments on all the time!
So when I found these adorable espadrilles in two colors on sale for $12 each, I knew I had to have them in both colors. I’ve seen espadrilles styled so many cute ways for summer, but I think you can easily pull them into fall. Since I’ve been wearing these around town I’ve been stopped twice and asked where they were from, and of course I had to tell them, “run, don’t walk. They were $12!”
espadrilles c/o Payless | pants – old, love these | top c/o Bella Luxx, no longer available, love this one that comes in 8 colors | trench – vintage Burberry, similar here and here | sunnies | bag | beanie
My challenge to you guys – pop into Payless next time you’re in a mall or shopping center and you’re looking for some trendy shoes but don’t want to break the bank. I’m telling you – you’ll be surprised. I went in for one pair and left with six. Seriously! Stay tuned – you’ll being seeing which pairs I picked up!
Thanks so much for reading, and if you need some inspiration on how to style your Payless purchase, check out their Pinterest. XO –
LBD – the mandatory dress in your closet. I have a black wrap dress that I called my “interview dress” the first few years out of college. Still have it and still love it!
This little black dress adds some spice with a split side and is just as fab on it’s own, but I wanted to bring it into fall with a leather jacket and some booties. A great reminder that you can always revamp those old faithful pieces in your closet!
What’s one of your favorite ways to style an LBD in your closet? Thanks so much for reading and don’t forget to enter the Rebecca Minkoff bag giveaway! XO –
Suede, chambray, fringe… all the things. Unless this is your first time visiting CBL (and if it is, welcome!), you guys know I’m a more is more kind of gal. I’ve loved seeing all the different ways girls have been styling the suede skirt this fall and this one is for the tall girls!
This skirt is from TTYA x Long Tall Sally, a clothing company dedicated to clothing for taller girls. Brilliant. They have the cutest pieces, like this turtleneck dress I wore a few weekends ago here.
vest c/o | skirt c/o | chambray – Forever21, old, love this one and this one | heels c/o, also love these | bag | sunnies – borrowed from Endless Eyewear, get your first month free with code CBLied | earrings c/o | cuff c/o
Thanks so much for reading, and don’t forget to enter to win one of two Rebecca Minkoff satchels here! XO –
Do you have advice you’ve learned from your relationship and/or partner? I’d truly love to hear. Thanks so much for reading and for experiencing this journey with me! You can find posts about our wedding 
